City of Nelson
2014 FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT
An analysis of the community’s food security assets and gaps,
along with community-developed recommendations
The Food Security Asset Mapping and Gap Analysis project was a partnership of the City of
Nelson and the Nelson Food Cupboard Society, and was completed in 2014.
Project funding was provided by the BC Healthy Communities Society, the Province of British
Columbia, and the Osprey Community Foundation. Additional support was provided by the
Kootenay Co-op Country Store and the Selkirk Geospatial Research Centre.
Author: Marya Skrypiczajko
Steering Committee: Candace Batycki (Councillor, City of Nelson), Tara Stark (Community
Nutritionist, Interior Health), Kim Charlesworth (General Coordinator, Nelson Food Cupboard
Society; Steering Committee member, Kootenay Boundary Food Producers’ Co-op), Kerri Wall
(Community Health Facilitator, Interior Health)
COVER IMAGE: SEEDS Gardening Program
December, 2014
Table of Contents
Executive Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Methodology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Community Food Security Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Public Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Infrastructure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Knowledge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Gaps and Opportunities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Community Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Economic Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Social Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Appendix A: Participants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Appendix B: Public Policy Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Appendix C: Infrastructure Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Appendix D: Organization and Program Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Appendix E: Knowledge Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Appendix F: Community Development Gaps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Appendix G: Economic Development Gaps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Appendix H: Social Development Gaps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
CITY OF NELSON 2014 FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT | p.3
Executive Summary
The City of Nelson 2014 Food Security Assessment brought together municipal leaders,
social service organizations, businesses, health organizations, schools, and community
members to review Nelson’s current level of food security, identify shortcomings
and discuss opportunities, strategize for a more food secure future, and develop
networks to work toward the goals. This report aims to educate municipal leaders
and community members on the current status of Nelson’s food system and offers
recommendations for improvement.
Nelson’s Official Community Plan contains the following food security objective:
All Nelsonites have access to affordable, nutritious food that is produced
in a socially just and environmentally sustainable manner. The local food
system is robust, resilient and integrated with other sustainable regional
and global food systems.
This objective can and should be the starting point for developing a stronger local
food system, including supportive municipal policies.
Nelson is home to a dynamic population that organizes many unique food security
initiatives and operates diverse food-based businesses. Nelson’s established kitchen
spaces, municipal greenhouses, co-operatively and privately owned businesses that buy
from local farmers, non-profits that support regional farmers and vulnerable populations,
programs that target citizens of all ages, and reports of best practices in food security
work are all valuable assets that currently support community food security.
Despite these assets Nelson still faces many food security challenges. Due to its
geographic location it is difficult for the City of Nelson to produce much of its own
food. Currently only around five percent of the food consumed in the city of Nelson
is produced locally, and regional farmers are struggling to make a living. Vulnerable
populations are growing: the number of seniors in the community is rising, as are
the number of people relying on food banks and free meal programs. With little
coordinated planning amongst stakeholders, it’s clear that Nelson still has a lot of
work to do.
Participants in this food security assessment envision Nelson as a place where:
• Citizens can produce more of their own food and buy more locally produced food;
• Vulnerable people are better supported with access to healthy food and food CITY OF NELSON 2014 FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT | p.4
skills training, and organizations are better funded to do this work; and
• Farmers in the region are better supported by all levels of government and by the general public.
Achieving this will require the effort of numerous individuals, organizations, businesses
and municipal leaders. The good news is that many citizens are eager to contribute.
Top Priority Recommendations
• Municipal leaders advocate for a strong, local food system at all levels of government and to all audiences.
• Form a municipal food council consisting of a City Councillor and a wide variety
of stakeholders.
• Create a community food centre where food security organizations could share resources, network and be accessible to the public.
• Develop municipal policies that support food production, storage and distribution
in Nelson.
• Develop infrastructure to support farmers and value added businesses.
• Increase access to affordable, fresh and healthy food for vulnerable populations.
• Improve coordination for strategic investments in food security and food
systems priorities.
• Create an economic development fund for local agriculture.
• Offer multi-year funding opportunities and more than one intake period each year.
CITY OF NELSON 2014 FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT | p.5
Introduction
Food security is important to the citizens of Nelson, yet a challenge to achieve in a
city with limited arable land, many vulnerable people, and no single locus for food
centred activities, including education, coordination and planning. Fortunately, many
unique businesses and non-profit organizations work to overcome these challenges by
supporting farmers from the surrounding rural areas, creating equitable food access for
vulnerable populations, and offering networking and educational opportunities. Despite
Nelson’s considerable human assets, more needs to be done to put the City of Nelson on
a path to true food security.
This report maps out existing assets (including public policy, infrastructure,
organizations, programs and knowledge), discusses gaps in the local food system, and
outlines opportunities and recommendations to the City and the community in the areas
of economic, social, and community development related to food security.
Nelson’s geographical position on the side of a mountain, surrounded by more
mountains and water, means the city can produce only a small fraction of the food
needed to sustain its citizens. Nelsonites rely on food from farms in the outlying rural
agricultural areas and from much further afield, from other areas of BC to the United
States to the other side of the globe. This dependence on food being transported into
the city is a fragile situation: roads can be closed, transportation costs can rise quickly,
and producing regions can suffer from droughts and other weather disturbances which
increase the costs of Nelson’s food supply. Nelson can do better by developing strong
relationships with farmers as close to home as possible, and by strengthening food
production within city limits.
Nelson is home to 10,230 people1 of all ages and income levels. While many people
support themselves independently and can purchase and prepare the food they need,
there are vulnerable children, youth, adults and seniors needing additional supports,
and their number is growing. Since 2008, food bank and soup kitchen use in Nelson
has risen annually, as has the demand on support programs for families and seniors.
Twenty percent of people served by food banks in Nelson over the last three years
were children, and twenty percent of people using Our Daily Bread soup kitchen were
seniors2. According to the Interior Health Authority’s Nelson Local Health Area Profile,
the population is expected to increase 4.3% by 2018, with a 21.4% increase in people 65
years of age and over, and a 21.2% increase in people 85 years and over3, indicating that
the need for social support programs will not abate soon.
1 Rural Development Institute, Community Profile for Nelson BC, 2011
2 Nelson Committee on Homelessness: 6th Annual Report Card on Homelessness for Nelson, BC. June, 2014
3 BC Stats, People 2013, 2013
CITY OF NELSON 2014 FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT | p.6
In addition to serving its 10,000 citizens, Nelson is the market centre for additional
people from the surrounding region, and thus the economic hub for many farmers and
food businesses. In BC, the average household (2.5 people) in a community of less than
30,000 spends $6,843 per year on food4 and altogether West Kootenay residents spend
$266,000,000 on food annually. Only an estimated 5% of that is produced locally5. With
95% of grocery dollars leaving the region, clearly there is viable economic opportunity in
the local food production industry.
Nelson has a strong showing of food security assets for a community of its nature.
There are farmers’ markets, natural food retail co-ops, value-added small businesses,
progressive food access services for people living in poverty, food skills education
programs for seniors and youth, many engaged citizens and food systems experts, and
the food secure vision of the City.
Even with this diverse asset set, many challenges remain. Farmers struggle to make their
farm businesses economically viable: they lack financing support, extension services
(on-farm education), and a broad customer base. Often they rely on off-farm income to
support their farming endeavours. In general, there is a lack of understanding of the real
cost of food based on the cost of farm land and the amount of labour and inputs required
for sustainable food production, making locally produced food seem too expensive
to many people. The growing number of vulnerable people in Nelson, particularly
seniors, challenges social service agencies to provide enough healthy food and food
skills programming; programs that do exist are spread throughout the community,
creating invisible barriers to participation. Furthermore, there is a lack of coordination
between social services, food businesses, local government, funders, and farmer
organizations within Nelson and the surrounding region. This results in less efficient
services and persistent gaps. Community consultation participants also noted a lack of
intergenerational food-related activities that bring people of all income levels together to
learn from one another, build relationships and celebrate our food culture.
Community members identified food security as an important issue in Nelson’s Official
Community Plan (OCP) and Path to 2040 research, which led to the following goal being
included in both documents:
All Nelsonites have access to affordable, nutritious food that is produced in a socially just
and environmentally sustainable manner. The local food system is robust, resilient and
integrated with other sustainable regional and global food systems.
The information in this report can be used as a tool for municipal and community leaders
in planning and decision making to turn this food security vision into a reality.
Participants in Nelson’s Food Security Assessment community consultation process see
many opportunities to address current gaps and are keen to be involved in solutions for
improved food security for the community.
4 Rural Development Institute, ibid
5 Jon Steinman - Towards a Regional Food System Alliance Development Strategy for the West Kootenay, 2011
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Specifically, they would like:
•
•
•
•
•
A greater commitment to food security by elected officials;
To participate on a food policy council alongside City representatives;
To be involved in programs that support farmers and vulnerable populations;
Priority food security projects to be supported by local funders;
To be able to purchase locally grown/produced foods from more local
businesses;
• Improved coordination among stakeholders; and
• Citizens of Nelson to be able to produce more of their own food.
Food Security exists for a community when:
• Everyone has assured access to adequate, appropriate and personally acceptable food in a way that does not damage self-respect;
• People are able to earn a living wage by growing, producing, processing, handling, retailing and serving food;
• The quality of land, air and water are maintained and enhanced for future generations; and
• Food is celebrated as central to community and cultural integrity.
(BC Food Systems Network, www.bcfsn.org )
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Methodology
In May, 2014, the City of Nelson received a Healthy Communities Capacity Building
grant from Plan H for a food security asset mapping and gap analysis project. Nelson
saw the need for such an assessment due to:
• Recognition by City Council of insufficient knowledge of the local food system to support planning and decision making relating to the goals articulated in the OCP;
• A desire by City Council to better understand how to play a larger role in supporting food security;
• Awareness by social service agencies that vulnerable populations need more support to achieve food security;
• Awareness of the lack of networking and partner development opportunities for all those working in the food system;
• Awareness that the local farmers Nelson relies on face many challenges;
• Desire to identify food-related economic development opportunities; and
• Interest from funders in having more information to support decision-making on food security-related funding applications.
Participants at the first community consultation.
The objectives of the project were to:
•
•
•
•
Create an inventory of community assets that support food security;
Identify gaps in the system;
Determine local priorities;
Develop recommendations for the City and community partners;
CITY OF NELSON 2014 FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT | p.9
• Inform strategic planning, resource allocation, and policy development of the City, businesses, funders and community organizations; and
• Build and strengthen partnerships and networks.
The main methods of information collection and analysis were:
• The input of a Steering Committee comprised of a City Councillor, community nutritionist, community health facilitator, food bank coordinator and regional food producers’ representative;
• Two four-hour community consultations with 35 people from various food-
related backgrounds and areas of expertise;
• Phone interviews with 10 people unable to attend the community consultations (an additional 20 stakeholders were invited, but unable to participate); and
• A review of community plans, municipal best practices, and recently published food security reports and guides related to the Columbia Basin.
CITY OF NELSON 2014 FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT | p.10
Community Food Security Assets
Participants in the community consultations identified food security assets in Nelson
in the following five categories: public policy, infrastructure, organizations, programs
and knowledge. The appendices list all categories in detail.
City of Nelson 2014: Food Security Assets
Public Policy
In Nelson, there are limited food policies at the municipal level, but food security
is included in the City’s visioning documents, which shows City leaders’ baseline
understanding of the importance of food security to the community.
In recent years the City of Nelson has completed nine planning initiatives, including
three that specifically address food security: The Path to 2040 Sustainability Strategy
(December 2010), the Sustainable Waterfront and Downtown Master Plan (July 2011)
and the Affordable Housing Strategy (July 2010). In May 2013 City Council passed Bylaw
3247, 2013, officially updating the Official Community Plan (OCP) to incorporate all the
recent plans. The new OCP contains the following references to food:
CITY OF NELSON 2014 FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT | p.11
•Section 2.0, Community Vision and Goals includes the Food, Food Security and Agriculture Goal from the Path to 2040 Sustainability Strategy (p.8):
“All Nelsonites have access to affordable, nutritious food that is produced in a socially just and environmentally sustainable manner. The local food system is robust, resilient and integrated with other sustainable regional and global food systems.”
•Section 4.3, Housing notes that (p.45): “… secure sources of healthy and affordable food continue to be key issues facing the community.”
•Section 4.4, Healthy Living & Social Well Being, includes a section headed “Food Security” (p.48), which provides the definition of food security and continues:
o “Food Security has been identified as an important issue by the community. Initiatives such as farmers markets and community gardens will be promoted within the City of Nelson as a way to alleviate the threats to food security. There is a movement toward food self-reliance and Nelson is home to several community food groups and initiatives designed to foster local food security.”
•Also in the section on Healthy Living & Social Well Being, the following “Policies” are listed (p.50):
14. The City will explore ways to ensure availability and accessibility of nutritious whole foods including:
• Permitting community gardens throughout the City, in all land use designation categories.
• Working with the Regional District of Central Kootenay and members
of the agricultural community to support farmers’ access to the
land and resources they need in order to maximize regional food
production, processing and distribution.
• Supporting and encouraging food production, processing and
storage within city limits at both the commercial and individual level.
•Schedule H of the OCP, the Development Permit Area Design Guidelines, states: “Food Production – Community gardens and their associated functional amenities (storage) should be considered throughout the parks system, including Lakeside Park.”
Additionally, the Path to 2040 Sustainability Strategy includes the following objective:
“Inspire a greater understanding of the local / global food system and available
resources to build community capacity and to foster more informed, ethical choices.”
The Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) has a comprehensive Agriculture
Plan, and it notes that Nelson, like all municipalities in the RDCK, should “incorporate
policies and programs supportive of urban agriculture, food production and food
systems” through the provision of green space and gardening infrastructure, such as
greenhouses, irrigation and fencing, and through pesticide and urban hen bylaws.
CITY OF NELSON 2014 FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT | p.12
Nelson Path to 2040 Food, Food Security and
Agriculture Objectives:
1. Ensure availability and accessibility of nutritious whole foods.
2.Participate in a coordinated approach to support farmers’ access to the land and resources they need in order to maximize regional food production, processing and distribution.
3.Support and encourage food production, processing and storage within city limits at both the commercial level and individual level.
4.Inspire a greater understanding of the local / global food system and available resources to build community capacity and to foster more informed, ethical choices.
Infrastructure
Nelson has a variety of food security infrastructure assets currently available to
the public, including commercial kitchens, small community garden spaces, and
municipally owned greenhouses. Participants in the community consultations also
identified underutilized and potential assets from arable land that could be gardened
to City owned buildings that could serve as storage or packing facilities for farmers,
or a food centre for many purposes. There are also hundreds of private assets in the
city that contribute to our ability to feed ourselves, such as backyard gardens and
composts; however inventorying them was beyond the scope of this project.
Kitchens available to the community exist throughout Nelson, although most are
situated in the downtown area. They are of varying size and quality – some are very
new and others could benefit from upgrades. Some are small and used to enhance
programming for a social service, such as the kitchens at the Youth Centre and the
Family Place. Others are large and very multi-purpose: the kitchens at the Nelson
United Church and Our Daily Bread are used for social services, community meals,
and food skills programs, and are available to rent by community groups and food
businesses. Most schools in Nelson also have kitchens that are used for food programs
for their students, but also available for others to rent. The information gathered in
this assessment could be the start of a more in-depth inventory that could be used by
community members and small businesses when looking for a facility to rent. The size
and amenities of each kitchen, the days and times they are available for rent, if they
are attached to dining halls or not, the fee schedule, and the contact person for each
kitchen would be helpful information to have in one database.
There are a few public garden spaces in Nelson, however all have specific user groups.
The Nelson Women’s Centre, the Mental Health Clubhouse, and several schools have
small gardens tended by their members or students. The public garden at Hendryx
and Baker Streets uses indigenous plants, and includes some perennial herbs that can
be harvested by the public. Four small garden boxes outside the Nelson and District
Community Complex are available, and have been tended by the Nelson Food Cupboard.
CITY OF NELSON 2014 FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT | p.13
SEEDS’ City-owned Greenhouse
The City-owned greenhouses at Lakeside Park are another important asset and a
wonderful example of the potential for the municipality to use its assets to support
community food security. The greenhouses have been refurbished over the last couple
years by the Seniors Economic Environmental Development Society (SEEDS) and now
are used year-round to grow organic produce for vulnerable populations and share
gardening skills across generations.
In addition to these existing assets, there is a reasonable amount of small plots of
arable land that could be used to grow food, such as the grounds of the Interior Health
Authority’s property (Mount St. Francis) and Selkirk College, sections of City parks,
and boulevards. The large flat roofed buildings of Nelson can also be considered
an asset because these spaces could be developed as greenhouses and could take
advantage of the excess heat produced by the buildings’ HVAC (Heat, Ventilation, Air
Conditioning) systems.
Rosemont Elementary School Garden
Rosemont Elementary School has an edible garden where students learn about
growing vegetables and berries. They analyze their soil, start plants from seed,
transplant them into the garden, and eventually harvest the produce. The children
grow tomatoes, peas, kale, beans, strawberries, raspberries and more for snacking on
and making into school meals.
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Organizations and Individuals
Citizens of Nelson and the surrounding area benefit from a wide array of businesses,
non-profit organizations, faith communities, and talented individuals working to
achieve greater food security for the community. They are growing, preparing, baking,
selling and serving food; they are tackling challenging issues, such as equitable food
access for all and the struggles of modern day farmers; they are educating children;
and funding important community projects.
The food businesses in Nelson are very diverse. This assessment focussed on
inventorying those that support local farmers and producers, however the list
compiled in the appendix is not exhaustive. The Kootenay Co-op is a large natural
foods store that sells as much locally produced food as it can source, Save On Foods
sells locally produced food in many of its departments, Ellison’s Market stocks its
shelves with much local fare, and Burrell’s corner store sells locally produced tofu,
bread, coffee and more. Many restaurants, bakeries and caterers buy from local
farmers whenever possible, which generally means when products are available
and affordable. Notable businesses include the Hume Hotel, the Kootenay Bakery,
and the All Seasons Café. There are a few value-added food businesses that buy
produce from nearby farms, such as Soups in Season, based in Uphill Nelson, that
buys approximately 45% of its produce from area farmers for its soups and fermented
foods that are sold at various outlets in Nelson. It is worth noting there is a strong
co-operative movement in Nelson and that several of the food businesses are cooperatively owned. All businesses listed here are supportive of community food
security in other ways too; they regularly donate to food banks, support educational
programs, and educate their customers.
Malnourishment affects many people in Nelson. Quite a few organizations work to
mitigate its effects: Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen, the Salvation Army, St. Saviour’s
Anglican Church Food Pantry, and the Nelson Food Cupboard Society specifically
support people living in poverty with access to free food. Other social service agencies
such as Kootenay Kids and the Women’s Centre offer some food to their clients,
as well as food skills workshops. The Seniors Coordinating Society (Sencoord) has
programs to help seniors access groceries which allows them to live independently
longer.
Non-profits also grow food and support our farmers. SEEDS grows organic vegetables,
the West Kootenay EcoSociety manages the Baker Street and Cottonwood Falls
Farmers’ Markets and Earth Matters’ compost education projects, and the Kootenay
Organic Growers Society and Kootenay Local Agriculture Society are farm certifying
organizations. The Kootenay Boundary Regional Food Producers’ Co-op is under active
development and will offer much-needed services to farmers, including distribution,
storage, on-farm education, and a labour pool.
The Osprey Community Foundation is the only funder in the area with a specific food
security fund; however the Columbia Basin Trust funds food security projects through
its social, environmental and youth streams, and through the Community Initiatives
CITY OF NELSON 2014 FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT | p.15
Program, administered by the Regional District of Central Kootenay and municipalities,
including the City of Nelson. The Kootenay Co-op, the Nelson and District Credit Union,
and service clubs also financially support many food security programs in Nelson.
All educational institutes surveyed said their students have a keen interest in food
security programming. They try to incorporate some learning opportunities into their
curriculum, but none have specific food security courses or classes.
There are many individuals in Nelson who contribute positively to the community’s
food security. Interior Health has a community nutritionist who supports many
municipal and community initiatives, and the School District’s Health Promoting
Schools Coordinator supports staff and students to improve their health, including
diet. Individuals and elders with food skills knowledge abound and share their
knowledge of growing, cooking and preserving food with friends, neighbours, school
groups, social services, and others.
The farmers that supply the local businesses and sell their goods at the farmers’
markets are a very critical asset to Nelson’s food security, even though they reside
outside of city limits. There is not one farm within Nelson, yet 30,000 meals are
consumed here every day. Numerous Nelsonites frequent the farmers’ markets and
natural foods stores to buy locally produced produce for its flavour, freshness, and low
impact on the earth.
“
Downscaling our energy use
in this day and age is such a
crucial step and getting our
food from close to home is
an extremely effective way to
do that. Running a business
that involves dealing with
multiple farmers rather than
a distributor is more work,
but it’s worth it!”
— Valerie Sanderson, owner, Soups in Season
Ruth Fraser of Glade Valley Gardens sells
organic vegetables to the Kootenay Co-op,
Save On Foods and the Nelson Food
Cupboard Society.
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Kootenay Co-op
The Kootenay Co-op is one of the biggest retailers of local food in the Kootenays and
is owned by 12,500 community members. To support local food production a vendor
information package and business mentorship are freely available to all potential
vendors. The Co-op’s outreach program includes health, wellness and cooking classes;
a website with recipes and relevant food security articles; and grant opportunities for
students and community organizations.
Programs
Nelson is fortunate to have a wide range of food security programs that support
various populations from seniors to children, and people who cannot afford to buy
food to people who want to grow more of their own. These programs are operated
by non-profit organizations, businesses, schools and faith communities that share a
desire to improve community food security.
Sixteen different programs support vulnerable populations with access to food. Our
Daily Bread Soup Kitchen’s hot lunch program operates Monday through Friday year
round; in 2013, 14,534 meals were served. The Salvation Army’s hot breakfast program
and drop in centre, which serves snacks and coffee, are open Monday through
Thursday, and their food bank can be accessed once per month. The Nelson Food
Cupboard is a barrier-free food bank open Mondays and Wednesdays; it is set up like a
small grocery store. St. Saviour’s Food Pantry is open Friday mornings and accessible
to all. In addition to these four organizations with specific food security mandates,
quite a few other social services offer some free food to their program participants.
For example, Stepping Stones Homeless Shelter, managed by Nelson CARES, serves
clients three meals a day, and Kootenay Kids gives out food vouchers to pregnant
women. Schools also play a role by offering free breakfast and hot lunch programs
to children of families living in poverty; these programs vary by school. Altogether,
these programs take an incredible amount of community resources, including funding,
staffing, and volunteer support.
Additionally, several programs exist specifically for seniors, to help them live
independently and participate in the community. Sencoord assists seniors with grocery
shopping support programs, while Meals on Wheels and Dinners at Home, both
operated by Interior Health out of Nelson Jubilee Manor, deliver pre-made meals to
seniors. SEEDS engages many volunteers as gardeners. According to Lee Reid, SEEDS
Coordinator, “Seniors say volunteering at SEEDS’ organic greenhouse, while sharing
the gardening experience with children, is the very best of food for the soul.”
Nelson is home to educational programs targeted at specific audiences, as well as
many programs open to the general public. Trafalgar Middle School and LV Rogers
High School have home economics programs; Food for Life at Trafalgar is a cooking
CITY OF NELSON 2014 FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT | p.17
class with an emphasis on preparing healthy meals using locally sourced ingredients
that is very popular with students. MEND (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition, Do It), offered
by the Nelson and District Community Complex (NDCC), is targeted at 7 – 13 year
olds and teaches them about healthy lifestyles and eating well. Selkirk College has a
culinary school at the Tenth Street Campus and offers food skills continuing education
courses, such as Food Safe, wildcrafting, and permaculture gardening. Ellison’s Market
and the Kootenay Co-op offer food-related workshops and lectures to the public;
the Kootenay Co-op also offers cooking classes. Earth Matters does public compost
education at the Baker Street and Cottonwood Falls Farmers’ Markets. A number of
social service organizations offer food skills classes to their clients. In recent years, the
Salvation Army has been teaching slow cooker classes and the Nelson Food Cupboard
has offered food preservation, gardening and bread-making workshops. And finally,
Community Futures hosts business advisory programs that are available to emerging
farmers and food processing business owners.
There are also several lively annual events that are educational and celebrate our
food culture. The West Kootenay EcoSociety organizes the spring Garden Festival on
Baker Street, the Edible Garden Tour in August, and the Fall Fair at Cottonwood Falls
Farmers’ Market in September. Jon Steinman hosts the Deconstructing Dinner Film
Festival in the fall. All events are well attended.
Harvest Rescue
Harvest Rescue is a program of the Nelson
Food Cupboard Society that gleans unwanted
produce from backyard gardens and unsold
produce from farmers’ markets and fruit
stands, and then shares it with vulnerable
people via Nelson’s social services. The
program redistributes 5,000 - 10,000 pounds
of produce annually.
Harvest Rescue volunteers.
Knowledge
A lot of research has been done on the status of the region’s food system, the needs
of farmers and community members, and best practices in all aspects of food security
work. The recently published reports listed in Appendix E: Knowledge Assets will
help guide municipal leaders and community members toward creating a more food
secure community. Social service agencies have statistics showing program usage and
satisfaction rates, which can be used by community leaders and funders in decision-
CITY OF NELSON 2014 FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT | p.18
making. Additionally listed are websites operated by community businesses or private
citizens that share knowledge on food skills and the food system.
Kootenay Lake Regional Food Systems by Paris Marshall Smith describes how the
provincial government can support and strengthen the Kootenay Lake regional
food system through the building of infrastructure and networks. Many of the
recommended actions could be community-led as well. Food Banks of the Columbia
Basin by the Golden Food Bank highlights 19 food banks across the basin, showing
great diversity amongst their programming, and similarities in the challenges they
face: uncertainty of funding, inability to provide enough highly nutritional food,
inadequate storage spaces, and challenges maintaining staff and volunteers. Creating
an Age Friendly Community by Janice Murphy details the priorities and needs, including
food access, of the growing senior population in the Nelson area.
Two key reports can inform City leaders’ involvement in food security. Best Practices
in Local Food published by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario informs
municipalities regarding best practices to support and promote their local food
industries. It discusses the benefits of a thriving local food industry and offers local
food strategies and practices available to municipalities, along with case studies
from communities of various sizes with various approaches. Municipal Food Policy
Entrepreneurs: A preliminary analysis of how Canadian cities and regional districts
are involved in food system change written by the Toronto & Vancouver Food Policy
Councils highlights six forms of municipal food policy activity and successful examples
of each. There is also a locally researched and published report that points out the
need for a coordinated approach throughout the region to address the existing
gaps within the food system: Jon Steinman’s Towards a Regional Food System
Alliance Development Strategy for the West Kootenay. It includes examples of various
food councils, coalitions, roundtables, and grassroots food systems organizations
throughout North America.
Meals on Wheels, Kootenay Kids, the Nelson Food Cupboard Society, Our Daily Bread, and
the Salvation Army all keep statistics on the number of people served by their programs.
Some have done formal surveys to determine the satisfaction rates for their services.
The internet is a treasure trove of informative food-related websites. Participants
in this food security project came up with a useful list that includes supports for
farmers, home gardeners and avid cooks; as well as the Rural Development Institute’s
resources and Deconstructing Dinner’s radio and television documentaries.
KootenayFood.com
The West Kootenay Permaculture Co-op hosts www.kootenayfood.com, a website
with maps of the area that show farm input suppliers and food access locations –
farms, stores, and restaurants; a food events calendar; farmer profiles; classifieds; and
more.
CITY OF NELSON 2014 FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT | p.19
Gaps & Opportunities
The discussions at the community consultations illustrated a need for more or improved
policies, advocacy, coordination, infrastructure development, programming and
funding that support regional farmers, vulnerable populations in our community, and
the general public. The specific gaps were logically split into three categories: economic
development, community development, and social development. Many opportunities
exist to improve these sectors; specific recommendations developed by community
members are included in the following text and accompanying tables, along with
background information, roles for the City, roles for community groups, potential
partners, necessary resources, and suggested timelines.
It is worth noting that the Rural Development Institute at Selkirk College is
undertaking a region-wide food security assessment and will be able to provide
research to support many of the recommendations in this food assessment. Specifics
are noted in the appendices.
Community Development
Nelson is home to a community of people who understand the importance of food
security, want to be able to produce more of their own food, and want the City to
do more to support the local food system. This is illustrated by the research that
created the Path to 2040 Sustainability Plan and the Official Community Plan, the
strong turn-outs to farmers’ markets and educational food-related events, and the
engaged citizens who have lobbied Council on food security issues. Many are very
knowledgeable about the local food system and food security in general, and have
specific food skills such as cooking, preserving, gardening, and seed saving. They see
many opportunities for the positive evolution of Nelson’s food system and are keen to
be involved in solutions.
The top community development priorities identified by participants in this food
security assessment are:
1. Develop policies that support food production within the City.
This will address the following challenges:
a.
The lack of planning around food security in regards to climate change. A strategy to produce more food year-round within Nelson is needed: specifically, to create greenhouses. These could be at schools, on municipal land, at churches, on business land, and on large rooftops CITY OF NELSON 2014 FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT | p.20
with HVAC systems, such as the mall and the hospital. This is also an economic development opportunity.
b. Citizens are not allowed to keep chickens and bees for their own food production. The City can remove bylaw restrictions currently in place.
c.
The lack of edible trees in city parks. To avoid the conflict with bears that has been perceived in the past, the City can partner with a community organization that can manage the harvest for distribution through community food outlets.
d.
The lack of active community garden space. The old transfer station site can become a new park with edible gardens and a greenhouse. Gardens need to be large enough to grow significant amounts of food and there must be water infrastructure. Sufficient capacity must be in place to manage the gardens.
2. Form a municipal food policy council consisting of a City Councillor and a wide variety of stakeholders.
This will address the lack of coordination amongst stakeholders and the lack of
an advisory group to inform City leaders and funders. The Social Planning Action
Network, the Age Friendly Communities’ Initiative, and Cultural Development
Committee are all appropriate models. A food policy council should be made up
of a broad range of stakeholders, plus an informed and interested City Councillor.
The work of the food policy council could include:
a. Creating a food charter for Nelson, which is a detailed vision for the community’s food system endorsed by the City of Nelson;
b. Identifying city infrastructure, such as greenhouses, parks and irrigation, and making recommendations for their use;
c. Identifying any city buildings that could form part of the food system (e.g. 610 Railway);
d. Reviewing existing policies and by-laws, identifying gaps, and making recommendations for new policies and by-laws (e.g. hen and bee keeping);
e. Making recommendations regarding funding of food-related initiatives, for example, jurying food-related applications for the City of Nelson’s Community Initiatives Program funding;
f. Supporting Council in advocating to other levels of government by providing relevant research and policy advice;
CITY OF NELSON 2014 FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT | p.21
g. Annually reporting to council on the progress of the food system goals identified in this assessment, and pointing out emerging issues; and
h. Creating networking and planning opportunities for community partners.
3. Improve coordination for strategic investments in food security and food systems priorities.
This will address the following:
“
a.
The lack of collaboration amongst funders to address food-related priorities. Meetings are needed between the Columbia Basin Trust, the Osprey Community Foundation, the City of Nelson and the RDCK, and other possible funders. A reliable group, such as a food policy council, must provide the funders with up-to-date information.
b.
The lack of funding specifically directed at food security enhancement projects. A percentage of annual Community Initiative Program funding could be allocated to projects that support the food system, similar to the percentage allocation for arts and culture.
I wanted the City to do this asset mapping and gap analysis
project because I saw how a lack of information and
understanding was hampering our ability to move forward on
making strategic investments and developing useful policies.
Convening the community to hold conversations specifically
focused on Nelson’s food system and food security proved
invaluable. A food policy council can help ensure those kinds
of conversations continue, to provide the ongoing information
needed to develop and support durable solutions.”
— Candace Batycki, Nelson City Councillor
CITY OF NELSON 2014 FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT | p.22
Recommendations to City Leaders
• Provide a Nelson Hydro subsidy or rebate to businesses or organizations that
develop greenhouses for food production.
• Remove bylaw restrictions related to hen and bee keeping.
• Develop the former transfer station into a garden with fruit trees, nut trees,
ample community garden space and a greenhouse that could also be used by the
community.
• Plant fruit and nut trees in existing parks.
• Designate a Council representative to a food policy council and provide meeting
space and staff support.
• Participate in meetings with funders to discuss food-related priorities.
• Develop guidelines and decide on a percentage of Community Initiatives Program
funds to be allocated to food security projects.
Recommendations to Community Groups
• An organization (e.g. WildSafe BC) can develop guidelines for urban hen and
bee-keeping.
• An organization (e.g. Nelson Food Cupboard Society that manages Harvest Rescue)
can contract with the City to manage harvesting fruit and nut trees on City land.
• An organization can partner with the City to manage the community garden section
of a new park where the transfer station used to be.
• Representatives from many sectors can participate on a food policy council.
• The Columbia Basin Trust can approve a change to the way the City allocates Community Initiatives Program funds.
Economic Development
Nelson is the market centre for its 10,000 citizens, plus additional people from the
surrounding rural areas. Everything Nelson does to strengthen its food system will
also positively impact the city’s economy. Policies, programs, and infrastructure that
support local food production, and ways to connect local consumers to local suppliers,
help build a stronger and more sustainable local economy. Food dollars remain in the
community to circulate from buyers to sellers and back again. As the Metro Vancouver
Regional Growth Strategy Review Backgrounder #11 (2009) states: “A dynamic food
industry arises from the multiplier effect of primary agriculture production creating
employment, value added food products, and providing food security to the region.”
The RDCK’s Agriculture Plan explains the benefits of a strong local food system as:
CITY OF NELSON 2014 FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT | p.23
• The expansion of markets for regional agriculture products giving consumers more opportunities to buy local and keep their money supporting local businesses.
• Direct farmer-consumer sales improving farmers’ profits.
• Food processing activities (e.g. slaughter and processing of meat) that occur
locally contributing to the local economy and potentially resulting in a greater
percentage of the finished product staying in the community.
• Other food-related activities such as transportation, distribution and storage creating local jobs.
• Farmer’s markets having many positive impacts.
Agriculture is an established sector of the regional economy, but is constantly being
challenged by evolving food regulations and insufficient support. According to the
2011 Census of Agriculture, there were 552 farms operating in the Regional District
of Central Kootenay. Total gross farm receipts were $34,353,451 and the farms paid
almost $6 million in wages and salaries.6 To illustrate the challenges, the 2011 census
also showed a huge decline in the number of animals on farm, with many of them half
of what they were in 2001. The RDCK Agriculture plan surmises that this is due directly
to the Provincial Meat Inspection Regulations that were introduced in 2004. These
regulations prohibited on-farm slaughter of livestock for the sale of meat. Today, the
lack of a slaughtering facility near Nelson is a major gap identified in the system, and
one that has repeatedly been brought to the province’s attention by municipal and
regional elected officials.
In general, there seems to be renewed energy and interest in agriculture and knowing
where food comes from. Supportive municipal policies and action can help the Nelson
area reap the economic benefits.
The top economic development priorities identified by participants in this food
security assessment are:
1. Municipal leaders advocate for a strong, local food system at all levels of government and to all audiences.
This will address the following challenges:
a. The lack of public knowledge of the real cost of food and the impact of buying locally grown and produced food.
b.
The lack of subsidies for small local farmers. Higher levels of government should be lobbied to remove subsidies to large agribusiness and apply subsidies and supports to small farmers. The Rural Development Institute is currently doing research to demonstrate the financial challenges small farmers face.
6 Government of BC. Fast Stats 2012. 2012
CITY OF NELSON 2014 FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT | p.24
c.
d.
Unrealized production capacity of local farms.
No local abattoir exists; farmers and hobby farmers must go to Grand Forks or Creston to have their animals slaughtered if they are going to sell the meat. An abattoir close to Nelson is necessary. A public education campaign about the benefits of having an abattoir near Nelson is important because some people will be opposed to the idea.
e. Insufficient farm extension services (on-farm education for farmers). All partners must work together to provide the critical on-site practical information farmers need and currently cannot access in cost-effective ways.
Kamloops Urban Agriculture and Food Systems
Strategy
An example of a city advocating for a strong, local food system is Kamloops with its
Urban Agriculture and Food Systems Strategy. Food security is a key component of
both the 2009 Kamloops Social Plan and the 2010 Sustainable Kamloops Plan (SKP). To
advance the SKP’s goals for food security in Kamloops, the city is developing an Urban
Agriculture and Food Systems Strategy (UAFSS) with the support of an 18-member
advisory committee.
2. Create an economic development fund for local agriculture.
This will address the fact that no economic development money is allocated to
agriculture. In particular, a portion of Nelson and Area Economic Development
Partnership money could be used to develop an agriculture fund to support
initiatives similar to the promotional work the Chamber of Commerce and
Invest Kootenay do for the tourism industry. For example, a public education
campaign on the value of buying from local farmers.
3. Develop infrastructure to support farmers and value-added businesses.
This will address the lack of produce storage and packing facilities, and
processing and value-added packaging facilities. Ideally, one facility would be
developed for all these functions. Currently the demand for locally processed
food is higher than production; there is great economic potential in this sector.
Additionally, farmers usually take home their unsold produce from the markets;
this produce could be directed to a value added facility.
CITY OF NELSON 2014 FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT | p.25
“
The demand for
local food far
outstrips our
current supply.
Even with 100 plus
local suppliers
(who were paid
$2M for their
goods in 2013), we
don’t come close
to having enough
local food on our
shelves. We are
excited for a time
Farmer Vince McIntyre delivers potatoes to the Kootenay Co-op.
when local farms and
food businesses will supply the majority (or at least
a much greater percentage) of our baked goods, dairy,
meats, fruits and vegetables, as well as a host of beans,
grains and high quality processed foods; create jobs in
our region; and increase our ability to feed our whole
community sustainably.”
— Jocelyn Carver, Marketing & Outreach Manager, Kootenay Co-op
True Local
The True Local campaign at the Kootenay Co-op brands products
that are produced within fifty kilometres of the store as ‘true local’
and promotes them with this logo.
CITY OF NELSON 2014 FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT | p.26
Recommendations to City Leaders
• Promote local food production capacity as real and a vibrant economic and
community development opportunity.
• Lobby for removal of subsidies to agribusiness and the creation of subsidies/supports
for small farmers.
• Articulate why an abattoir is necessary, and encourage the RDCK to do a land
inventory to identify suitable sites.
• Lobby the provincial government, the Association of Kootenay Boundary Local
Government and the Columbia Basin Trust to create extension services for farmers.
• Include an economic development fund for agriculture in the strategic plan in 2015,
and then allocate funding to it in 2016 and beyond.
• Champion the creation of one facility that meets many needs of local farmers, and
offer a cheap lease for available land and/or an existing building.
Recommendations to Community Groups
• The Nelson and Area Economic Development Partnership (NAEDP), Chamber of
Commerce, and Nelson Business Association can develop a ‘truly local’ campaign,
which the local media can help promote.
• The Kootenay Co-op and Kootenay Boundary Regional Food Producers’ Co-op can
continue educating the public about the values of buying locally and support those
listed above in creating a ‘truly local’ campaign.
• The Columbia Basin Trust can provide funding for a coordinated approach to bring
back extension services for farmers.
• A food council member or Council representative that understands the economic
development value of agriculture to the City can participate on the NAEDP Advisory
Committee to help create a strategic plan for an agriculture fund.
• An organization, business or partnership can develop a storage, packing, processing
and packaging facility, or a facility for some of these activities.
Social Development
Hunger and malnutrition are serious issues in Nelson. As noted earlier, food bank
and soup kitchen use has risen annually since 2008. Emergency food programs were
initially created for short-term use, but they are now the primary food access points
for many people living in poverty. Results from the Nelson Food Cupboard’s 2014
survey indicate 66% of their customers need to use their food bank every week, 66%
also use the soup kitchen and another food bank regularly, 61% are long term residents
(they have lived in Nelson for ten years or more), 19% work and cannot make ends
meet, and 54% are on a disability or seniors pension.
CITY OF NELSON 2014 FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT | p.27
Sixteen programs exist to help feed citizens living in poverty, requiring a huge amount
of time, money and resources. Most are band-aid programs and are spread throughout
Nelson. Best practices in the food security field demonstrate the need to group
programs together and focus on capacity-building programs that help vulnerable
people improve their diets and health.
As the number of vulnerable people in our community is rising, so are food costs.
Participants in this food assessment pointed out that all this information supports the
argument that Nelson needs to address poverty in the community.
Schools also play an important role in creating healthy people and lifestyles, but
schools in Nelson are challenged with limited resources (time and money) to develop
and maintain all the programs that would benefit their students.
The top social development priorities identified by participants in this food security
assessment are:
1. Create a community food centre where food security organizations could share resources and network.
This is a long-term goal that could be supported by a virtual hub in the interim.
A community food centre will address the following challenges:
a.
Food banks and food skills workshops are spread throughout town. Vulnerable people will participate in more capacity building programs if the programs exist in locations target audiences are comfortable with; having more programs in one place will increase participation. Some food skills programs should be available to the entire community with an aim to integrate people living in poverty with people of other backgrounds.
b.
The lack of coordination amongst social service providers working to mitigate food insecurity. Social services are generally under-staffed and unable to create or attend regular meetings to support each other’s programming. A role of the food centre could be to coordinate networking meetings and compile monthly newsletters of food security programs, opportunities and volunteer needs.
c. Excess food is produced by restaurants and retail food outlets, but not all of it is redirected to food access social services. More relationships need to be formed between restaurants and stores as donors and social service agencies as recipients.
d.
Seniors with mobility challenges have a difficult time living independently because they cannot grocery shop for themselves. Sencoord’s Grocery Run program should be further developed with support from organizations with large volunteer bases.
CITY OF NELSON 2014 FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT | p.28
e. The lack of food skills and community kitchen programming. The community needs a wide selection of cooking and gardening programs, particularly for vulnerable populations, and ideally in locations clients are already comfortable with. People living in poverty can learn to make healthy meals from inexpensive whole foods and grow some of their own food, knowledgeable citizens can share their expertise, and everyone can learn more.
f. The lack of volunteer coordination within Nelson. A part-time volunteer coordinator could assess the volunteer needs of all organizations, maintain this information and act as a central contact point for people wanting to volunteer.
g. School children participate in no or very little food skills programming outside of home economics classes. Organizations that can offer food skills field trips for school children can contact the Health Schools Promoting Coordinator to plan field trip opportunities. Ideally, there would be a website listing many opportunities that interested teachers could use as a planning tool.
2. Increase access to affordable, fresh and healthy food for vulnerable populations.
This will address the following problems:
a. The lack of sufficient quality food in food banks and other social service organizations that support vulnerable populations. Organizations can encourage donations of healthy foods.
b. All children do not have healthy diets. Schools, social service agencies, and the NDCC can work together to provide nutrition and food skills education for entire families. Parent Advisory Committees at schools can create or further develop lunch programs. Harvest Rescue can provide schools and the NDCC with fresh fruit in September and October.
3.Offer multi-year funding opportunities and more than one intake period each year.
This will address the fact that funding cycles are often too short, and at times are unavailable when opportunities emerge and need to be taken advantage of quickly.
CITY OF NELSON 2014 FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT | p.29
Recommendations to City Leaders
• Support the creation of a community food centre, and in the short term a virtual hub,
with Community Initiatives Program funding.
• Lobby the Columbia Basin Trust and other major funders to support the development
of a community food centre.
• Fund food skills programming through the Community Initiatives Program.
• Lobby the Columbia Basin Trust by passing a resolution recommending longer
funding cycles.
Recommendations to Community Groups
• One organization can spearhead a community food centre project in consultation
with all others that can be involved.
• Social service organizations can host coordinating and networking meetings.
• The Nelson Food Cupboard, the Salvation Army, and Interior Health can organize a
forum for restaurants, stores and social service agencies to develop more food rescue
partnerships. The Kootenay Co-op and Hume Hotel can present how they manage to
donate so much unsaleable food.
• Organizations can develop more food skills programs, and consult with those doing
similar work to avoid overlap in services.
• Organizations can create communication materials highlighting the importance of
healthy food donations, and mention this in all media work.
• Social service organizations can write to Council to support a request to the Columbia
Basin Trust to lengthen funding cycles.
Community Food Centre (CFC)
A community food centre (CFC) is a welcoming space where people come together to
grow, cook, share and advocate for good food. CFCs provide people with emergency
access to high-quality food in a dignified setting that doesn’t compromise their selfworth. People learn cooking and gardening skills there that help them make healthier
food choices. CFCs offer multifaceted, integrated and responsive programming in a
shared space where food builds health, hope, skills and community.
(Excerpted from Community Food Centres Canada’s website: www.cfccanada.ca/what_is_a_community_
food_centre)
CITY OF NELSON 2014 FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT | p.30
Food Skills workshop participants.
Conclusion
Despite the many food security assets Nelson has for a community of its size,
significant gaps remain. The farmers Nelson relies on struggle to make a living,
vulnerable populations are not as healthy as they could be, and there is no mechanism
for members of community food security organizations to counsel City leaders
and funding organizations on changing and emerging issues. Working toward the
recommendations in this report will not only improve Nelson’s food security, it will
also boost the local economy and have wide-ranging social benefits as citizens have
more programs, gardens and local food businesses to enjoy.
Many knowledgeable engaged citizens, including those who participated in the
community consultation and other individuals the Steering Committee has spoken
with, are ready and eager to work toward making these recommendations happen.
For success, a commitment from municipal leaders is needed, along with funding
and continued networking opportunities. Businesses, non-profits and individuals can
fill some of the smaller gaps, but a coordinated, community-wide effort is needed to
achieve the top priorities.
It is hoped this food assessment report for Nelson will be another building block in
creating a more food secure future for this community.
CITY OF NELSON 2014 FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT | p.31
Appendix A
Participants
Adrian Leslie
Rural Development Institute
Becky Quirk
Seniors’ Coordinating Society
Kim Charlesworth
Nelson Food Cupboard Society,
Kootenay Boundary Regional Food
Producers’ Co-op
Ruth Fraser
Kootenay Organic Growers Society
Sandra Hartline
St. Saviour’s Food Pantry
Bob Adams
City Council
Krista Webb
Development Services, City of
Nelson
Shauna Teare
West Kootenay Permaculture Society
Candace Batycki
City Council
Lee Reid
SEEDS
Sue Anne Smith
Ellison’s Market
Corrine Younie
The Age Friendly Community
Initiative
Louise Poole
School District #8
Tara Stark
Community Nutritionist, Interior
Health Authority
Emily Mask
SEEDS
Jocelyn Carver Kootenay Co-op Grocery Store
Jodi Vousden
Nelson and District Community
Complex
Joe Karthein
Kootenay Co-op Grocery Store
Jon Steinman
Deconstructing Dinner
Karoline Kemp
Nelson Women’s Centre
Marya Skrypiczajko
Nelson Food Cupboard Society
Nadine Raynolds
Rural Development Institute
Nelson Ames
Ospery Community Foundation
Paula Kiss
City Council
Valerie Sanderson
Soups in Season
Valerie Warmington Kootenay Kids
Velvet Kavanagh
Kootenay Local Agriculture Society,
Endless Harvest
Yvonne Burrows
Salvation Army
Ramona Faust
Regional District of Central
Kootenay, Area E
Rona Park
Nelson Community Services
CITY OF NELSON 2014 FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT | p.32
Appendix B
Public Policies Assets
POLICY
Nelson’s Official
Community Plan
JURISDICTION
Municipal
DETAILS
The City will explore ways to ensure availability and accessibility of
nutritious whole foods including: - Permitting community gardens
throughout the City, in all land use designation categories, - Working
with the RDCK and members of the agricultural community to
support farmers’ access to the land and resources they need in order
to maximize regional food production, processing and distribution,
- Supporting and encouraging food production, processing and
storage within city limits at both the commercial and individual level,
- Inspire a greater understanding of the local/global food system and
available resources to build community capacity and to foster more
informed, ethical choices.
Event permitting & public Municipal
works coordination
RDCK’s Agricultural Plan Regional
Allows events such as the farmers’ markets to happen.
Agricultural Land
Reserve
The Provincial Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) is an independent
administrative tribunal dedicated to preserving agricultural land
and encouraging farming in British Columbia. The Agricultural Land
Reserve (ALR) is a collection of agricultural land in BC in which
agriculture is recognized as the priority. In total, the ALR covers
approximately 47,000 square kilometres (18,000 sq mi) and includes
private and public lands that may be farmed, forested or are vacant.
The reserve is administered by the (ALC), consisting of a chair and
six vice-chairs appointed by the Lieutenant Governor-in-Council of BC
(cabinet) and 12 regular commissioners appointed by the provincial
Minister of Agriculture and Lands.
Provincial
The RDCK’s Agriculture Plan includes background information and
recommendations to meet the following goals: to identify priority
actions that support the viability of farming in the RDCK, to ensure
that the agricultural capability of the RDCK is realized and protected,
to foster a secure food supply for the RDCK residents, and to
implement the agriculture plan. It was adopted in principle in 2012,
but no further action has been taken by the Board of Directors as a
whole.
CITY OF NELSON 2014 FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT | p.33
Appendix B
Public Policies Assets - cont’d
IHA Land Use Policy for
Food Production
Provincial
A group or individual may apply to IH to use IH owned land for food
security and agriculture purposes. Projects cannot be permanent in
nature.
IHA Food Purchasing
Policy
Provincial
Interior Health Food Services will ensure the selection and
procurement of menu food items meet and maintain the basic health
and safety standards.
CITY OF NELSON 2014 FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT | p.34
Appendix C
Infrastructure Assets
ASSET
Mt St Francis, Interior Health
Selkirk College 10th St Campus
City parks and boulevards
McKim Cottage
Rosemont School
Nelson & District Community Complex
Hendryx St native garden
Lakeside Park greenhouses
LV Rogers School
Trafalgar School
Nelson & District Youth Centre
Our Daily Bread soup kitchen
St Saviour’s Anglican Church
Ascension Lutheran Church
Kalein Hospice
South Nelson School
Kootenay Kids Yellow House
Kootenay Kids Family Place
Nelson United Church
Cedar Groves Estate, Nelson Cares
Central School
Mental Health Clubhouse, Interior Health
Jaganatha restaurant
Nelson Women’s Centre
Roof of Chakho Mika mall
Roof of Kootenay Lake Hospital
Organic Matters
LOCATION
1300 Gordon Rd
820 10th St
310 Ward St
916 11th St
1605 Crease Ave
305 Hall St
310 Ward St
310 Ward St
1004 Cottonwood St
1201 Josephine St
608 Lake St
520 Falls St
701 Ward St
1805 Silver King Rd
402 Richards St
814 Latimer St
804 Stanley St
312 Silica St
602 Silica St
500 Richards St W
811 Stanley St
818 Vernon St
660 Baker St
420 Mill St
1150 Lakeside Dr
3 View St
3505 British Columbia 6
TYPE
arable land
arable land
arable land
garden
garden
garden
garden
greenhouse
greenhouse, kitchen, garden, cafeteria
kitchen, arable land
kitchen
kitchen
kitchen
kitchen (under construction)
kitchen
kitchen
kitchen, garden space
kitchen, garden space
kitchen, dining hall
kitchen, dining hall
kitchen, garden
kitchen, garden
kitchen for rent
kitchen, garden
possible greenhouse to use HVAC system
possible greenhouse to use HVAC system
potential storage
CITY OF NELSON 2014 FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT | p.35
Appendix D
Organization & Program Assets
BUSINESSES
All Seasons’ Cafe
Bibo
Burrell’s corner store
Ellison’s Market
STREET ADDRESS
621 Herridge Ln
518 Hall St
1224 Stanley St
523 Front St
SYNOPSIS
Buys from local farmers
Buys from local farmers
Buys from local producers
Sells produce and prepared foods
from local producers, as well as
garden seeds and supplies.
Endless Harvest
Georama Growers
Ymir
2870 Georama Rd
Hume Hotel Restaurants
Max & Irma’s
Organic Matters
422 Vernon St
515 Kootenay St
3505 Hwy 6
Oso Negro
Railway Meats
Relish
Save On Foods
Silverking Tofu
Soups in Season
604 Ward st
86 Baker St
301 Baker St
1200 Lakeside Dr
508C Latimer St
295 Baker St
Organic food delivery business
Sells plant starts, berry bushes and
fruit trees.
Buys from local farmers
Buys from local farmers
Organic food wholesale business,
potential to rent storage space.
Buys from local producers for its café.
Cuts and wraps meat for hunters.
Buys from local farmers
Buys from local producers
Produces fresh organic tofu
Soups & sauerkraut maker and seller.
Uses many local ingredients.
CLUBS
Rotary Daybreak
422 Vernon St
Rod & Gun Club
801 Railway St
CO-OOPERATIVES
Kootenay Bakery
377 Baker St
Kootenay Boundary
209-501 Beasley St
Regional Producers Co-op West
PROGRAMS
- Do It Yourself food
skills workshops
- Mentoring farmers to
be suppliers
Has a goal to develop a food security
project to address poverty, in
partnership with others.
Hunting club, conservation values
Buys from local producers
A coop being created to support
producers by offering needed services
- distribution, storage, on farm
education, labour pool.
CITY OF NELSON 2014 FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT | p.36
Appendix D
Organization & Program Assets - cont’d
Kootenay Coop Grocery
Store
295 Baker St
One of the biggest retailers of local
food in the Kootenays and owned by
12,500 community members.
West Kootenay
Permaculture Coop
Winlaw
Aims to unify and support food and
farming efforts in this region, and
engage eaters to seek out food grown
and produced locally.
#203-514 Vernon St
Offers career development,
employment counselling and human
resource planning.
EDUCATORS
Kootenay Career
Development Society
School District #8
- Health, wellness and
cooking workshops
- Mentoring farmers to
be suppliers
- Food security project
funding
Food Safe for their
clients
- Home Economics
at Trafalgar Middle
School and LV Rogers
High School
- Breakfast for
Learning, varies by
school
- Hot Lunch program,
varies by school
- Fruit & Vegetable
Nutrition Program, 13
weeks/year
- Milk Program, 13
weeks/year
Self Design High
402 Richards St W
Selkrik College
820 Tenth St
Offers learners the opportunity to
customize their own high school
experience; a few students have
participated in food skills workshops
or tours.
- Continuing education
food skills courses
- Culinary diploma
CITY OF NELSON 2014 FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT | p.37
Appendix D
Organization & Program Assets - cont’d
FAITH COMMUNITIES
Kootenay Christian
Fellowship
520 Falls St
Salvation Army
601 Vernon St
St Saviour’s Anglican
Church
701 Ward St
FUNDERS
Columbia Basin Trust
Osprey Community
Foundation
Southern Interior
Development Initiative
Trust
Western Economic
Diversification Canada
NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS
Kootenay Kids
Castlegar
#B8 - 625 Front St
Vernon
Edmonton
312 Silica St
Our Daily Bread Soup
Kitchen, Monday Friday, barrier-free
- Food bank, access
once per month
- Drop in centre with
coffee and snacks,
Monday - Thursday
- Hot breakfast
program, Monday Thursday
St Saviour’s Food
Pantry, Friday, barrierfree
To support residents in the area
- Community Initiative
affected by the Columbia Basin Treaty. Program administered
by local governments
- Social, environment
and youth grants
Community fund
Food security project
funding
To support regionally strategic
investments in economic
development projects that will have
long-lasting and measureable regional
benefits for the Southern Interior.
Has funding programs for certain
types of business development.
Offers programs to support families
with children under the age of six, all
include snacks.
- Emergency Food for
Families
- Food vouchers for
pregnant women
CITY OF NELSON 2014 FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT | p.38
Appendix D
Organization & Program Assets - cont’d
Kootenay Local
Agriculture Society
(KLAS)
Kootenay Organic
Growers Society (KOGS)
Kootenay Society for
Community Living
Nelson Cares
Castlegar
Kootenay Mountain Grown farmer
certifying organization.
West Kootenay
Organic certification organization for
West Kootenay farmers.
Offers support programs for people
with developmental disabilities
Provides advocacy, housing,
employment and other support
services.
Helps community members access
healthy food.
509 Front St
521 Vernon St
Tool lending library
Bigby Place meals
Stepping Stones meals
for residents
Nelson Food Cupboard
Society
602 Silica St
- Nelson Food
Cupboard, Monday
and Wednesday,
barrier-free
- Harvest Rescue
- Cicada Place food
skills workshops
- Women’s Transition
House meals and food
vouchers
Grocery Run
Nelson Community
Service Society
201-518 Lake St
Offers counselling, support services,
and shelter.
Seniors’ Coordinating
Society
719 Vernon St
Seniors Economic
& Environment
Development Society
(SEEDS)
904 Third St
West Kootenay Eco
Society
507 Baker St
One stop for seniors for information
and supports, including several food
access programs. Tries to keep seniors
independent for as long as it is safe to
do so.
Seniors driven intergenerational food
security project that grows organic
food in Lakeside Park. Provides food
to low income populations. Offers
educational events.
Provides environmental news and
- Baker Street Farmers’
ways to take action on issues.
Market
- Cottonwood Falls
Farmers’ Market & Fall
Fair
- Garden Festival
- Edible Garden Tour
- Earth Matters’
Composting Education
CITY OF NELSON 2014 FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT | p.39
Appendix D
Organization & Program Assets - cont’d
RR2 S18 C9
Willing Workers on
Organic Farms (WWOOF)
Women’s Centre
420 Mill St
Young Agrarians
Vancouver
OTHERS
Community Futures
201-514 Vernon St
Deconstructing Dinner
Nelson & District
Community Complex
305 Hall St
Nelson Jubilee Manor
500 Beasley St W
Rural Development
Castlegar
Institute at Selkirk College
Coordinates farms wanting volunteer
support and willing volunteers.
Offers support and programming to
women in the area.
Works to make existing educational
programs, resources and tools more
readily available to new farmers.
Offers business support services.
Radio and television documentaries
about the food system.
Community fitness complex, healthy
lifestyles programming.
Managed by the IHA
Community Kitchen
workshops
- Self employment
program
- Entrepreneurial skills
workshops
- Basin business
advisory services
Film Festival
- MEND (Mind,
Exercise, Nutrition,
Do It)
- Eats & Beats
- Meals on Wheels
- Dinners at Home
Currently researching options to
increase agricultural production in the
Columbia Basin and Boundary regions.
CITY OF NELSON 2014 FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT | p.40
Appendix E
Knowledge Assets
TITLE
Best Practices in Local
Food
WEB ADDRESS
www.amo.on.ca/
AMO-PDFs/Reports/2
013/2013BestPractices
inLocalFoodAGuidefo
rMunicipalitie.aspx
AUTHOR
DATE
Association of 2013
Municipalities
of Ontario
Municipal Food Policy
Entrepreneurs: A
preliminary analysis of
how Canadian cities and
regional districts are
involved in food system
change.
www.capi-icpa.ca/
pdfs/2013/Municipal_
Food_Policy_Entrepreneurs_Final_Report.pdf
Toronto &
Vancouver
Food Policy
Councils
2013
Food Banks of the
Columbia Basin Report
www.livegoldenbc.
ca/Public/Page/
Files/45_Food%20
Banks%20of%20
the%20Columbia%20
Basin%202012.pdf
Golden Food
Bank Society
2012
Agricultural Potential of
the West Kootenays
www.cbrdi.ca/wpcontent/uploads/
Agricultural-Potential-of-the-W.KootsRRoussin-2014.pdf
Rachel
Roussin
2014
SYNOPSIS
This guidebook provides
municipalities with best practices to
support and promote their local food
industries. It discusses the benefits
of a thriving local food industry
and offers local food strategies and
practices available to municipalities,
along with case studies from
communities of various sizes with
various approaches
This report points out how local
governments are key players in the
Canadian food system, even though
they have limited jurisdictional
authority over the food system. It
discusses six different approaches
based on their levels of public sector
involvement, and includes Canadian
examples of each.
This report highlights 19 food
banks across the basin, shows
great diversity amongst their
programming, and many similarities
in the challenges they face:
uncertainty of funding, food and
monetary donation; inability to
provide enough highly nutritional
food; inadequate storage spaces;
and maintaining staff and volunteers.
A regional review of the land, soil
and climate for crop potential.
CITY OF NELSON 2014 FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT | p.41
Appendix E
Knowledge Assets - cont’d
Groundswell – A Guide to www.nklcss.org/
Aimee Watson 2012
Building Food Security in groundswell/grndswl.
pdf
Rural Communities
Kootenay Lake Regional
Food Systems Report
www.farmfoodfork.
files.wordpress.
com/2014/01/klfs_report_0127.pdf
Paris Marshall
Smith for
MLA Michelle
Mungall
2010
Towards a Regional
Food System Alliance
Development Strategy
for the West Kootenay
www.farmfoodfork. Jon Steinman
files.wordpress.
com/2014/01/wkfoodsystemalliance_
111711pdf.pdf
2011
Based on the work of the Kaslo Food
Hub, this guide was created to help
people in rural regions develop or
improve food security programs. It
includes information about the ‘core
ingredients’ for these programs:
people, mission, resources (funding)
and administrations, plus examples
of possible projects. It also includes
information on food policy.
This report responds to how the
provincial government can support
and strengthen the Kootenay Lake
regional food system through
the building of infrastructure and
networks. Recommendations are
divided into the following areas of a
localized food system: people; policy
and education; land and housing;
storage, processing and distribution
points; marketing and vending
opportunities; and integrated
resource management. Many of the
recommended actions could have
community led solutions as well.
This report acknowledges the West
Kootenay is home to a well-educated
population on food systems issues
and many initiatives that support our
local food system, but also points
out the need for a coordinated
approach throughout the region to
address the existing gaps within the
food system. It includes examples
of various food councils, coalitions,
roundtables and grassroots food
systems organizations throughout
North America.
CITY OF NELSON 2014 FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT | p.42
Appendix E
Knowledge Assets - cont’d
Creating an Age Friendly
Community
www.ospreycommunityfoundation.
ca/docs/CaringForSeniorsReport2011Final.pdf
Janice Murphy
Hunger Count 2013
www.foodbanksbc.
com/about-hunger-in-bc/hungercount-2013/
www.phabc.org/files/
farmtoschool/home/
F2Sguide-2nd-editionsingles.pdf
Canadian
2013
Association of
Food Banks
The BC Farm to School
Guide
The Cost of Eating in BC
Public Health
Association
of BC
2012
Dietitians of
Canada
2014
Meals on Wheels
statistics
Kootenay Kids statistics
Statistics Canada food
consumption expenses
Women’s Centre
statistics
weekly
www.statcan.
gc.ca/pub/16201-x/2009000/partpartie1-eng.htm
www.nelsonwomenscentre.com/
Canadian
government
2009
annual
This report demonstrates the
priorities and needs of the growing
senior population in Nelson based on
a survey of those aged 55 and older
living in Nelson and RDCK Areas E
and F.
An annual nation wide survey
of Food Banks Canada member
organizations and their clientele.
Farm To School is broadly defined
as a school-based program that
connects schools (K-12) and local
farms. The guide provides practical
information, tips, and tools for
developing a local program that
complies with provincial and federal
health regulations and is sensitive to
the diversity of schools throughout
BC.
Dietitians publish the report to
bring attention to the fact that
many British Columbians don’t have
enough money to buy healthy food.
And, it’s not getting any better.
Data about the numbers of meals
provided.
Data about the number of families
served.
Historical data related to food
production in Canada.
Data about food donations and
distribution.
CITY OF NELSON 2014 FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT | p.43
Appendix E
Knowledge Assets - cont’d
Nelson Food Cupboard
Society user statistics
Kootenay Food website
www.kootenayfood.
com
Organic Federation of
Canada website
www.organicinputs.
ca/en/
Kootenay Seniors’
website
www.kootenayseniors.ca/
Kootenay Co-op website
www.kootenay.coop
Rural Development
Institute resources
www.cbrdi.ca/
Young Agrarians website
www.youngagrarians.org/
Kootenay Organic
Growers website
www.kogs.bc.ca/
Kootenay Local
Agriculture Society
website
Deconstructing Dinner
website
www.klasociety.org/
www.deconstructingdinner.com
West
Kootenay
Permaculture
Co-op
Jon Steinman
annual
Data about Food Cupboard use:
age, gender, frequency of use,
satisfaction rate and more.
2014
An online directory to farms,
farmers’ markets, grocery stores,
farm supply stores, community food
services and more. It is sorted by
region, e.g. Nelson, Slocan Valley,
and includes maps, farmer profiles,
classifieds, and event postings.
Canada’s nationwide, searchable
directory of products that are either
approved for use or have been found
compliant with the Canadian organic
standard.
Information about services and
programs of interest to seniors living
in Nelson.
Provides a wide range of food and
wellness articles, information for
suppliers, co-op facts, recipes and
ongoing updates about food security
in the region.
Houses a resources database of local
food systems research, agricultural
plans, etc.
Lists events, tools, and media of
interest to young farmers.
Resources and information related
to organic standards and organic
growing practices.
Information related to agriculture in
the Kootenays intended to support
local farmers.
TV, radio, and podcasts about the
food system.
CITY OF NELSON 2014 FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT | p.44
APPENDIX F:
Community Development Gaps
Top Priorities
Gap(s) Specific Recommendations
Timeline (short -­‐ 2015, medium -­‐ 2015 -­‐ 18, long (er)
Additional Information
Role of Community Partners
Resources Needed
City Action Needed (if any)
Could be at schools, on municipal land, at churches, on business land, on large rooftops, such as the mall and hospital.
Rural Development Institute can provide supporting information. Columbia Basin Trust can help with funding.
Coordination, City Council champion, money
Nelson Hydro could provide a subsidy or a rebate.
Long
Explore what other cities are doing. Kerri Wall, Healthy Communities Initiative, Community Health Facilitator, can help research best practices in other municipalities.
City Council champion.
Research and development.
Medium
Research needs updating.
Wildsafe can develop guidelines.
Partnerships with organization such as Wildsafe.
City can remove bylaw restrictions.
Nelson Food Cupboard Society that manages Harvest Rescue can have a contract with the City to manage harvesting. City Council champion, volunteers to harvest.
Plant edible trees in the commons.
Medium
Develop the land as a garden.
Medium
Develop policies that support food production within the City.
1.) Lack of planning around food a.) Develop City strategy to create security in regards to climate greenhouses.
change.
b.) Policy for new/renovated developments to require garden spaces.
2.) Citizens are not allowed to City can remove bylaw restrictions.
keep chickens and bees for their own food production.
3.) Lack of edible trees in city parks.
Plant more fruit and nut trees in city parks.
4.) Lack of community garden space.
Old transfer station site can become a Gardens need to be large enough to An organization can partner with the Time, money, community new park with edible gardens and a grow significant amounts of food City to manage the community garden partner.
greenhouse.
and there must be water part of the park.
infrastructure.
Form a municipal food policy council consisting of a City Councillor and a wide variety of stakeholders.
Lack of coordination amongst Food council can provide networking stakeholders, lack of advisory opportunties to fill some of the gaps.
group to inform City leaders and funders.
Improved coordination for strategic investments in food security and food systems priorities.
1.) Lack of collaboration of funders to address priorities.
Meetings between the CBT, the Invite Kootenay Co-­‐op, Nelson & Osprey Foundation, the City, the RDCK District Credit Union, and the and other possible funders.
Chamber of Commerce. Needs a reliable group such as a food policy council to provide up to date information.
2.) Lack of funding specifically directed at food security enhancement projects.
Allocate a percentage of annual Similar to the allocation for Arts and CBT can approve this change.
Community Initiative Program funding Culture.
to projects that support the food system.
Others:
Lack of food skills knowledge Involve elders in food skills transfer from older generations programming.
to younger.
Look at the Social Planning Action Network, the Age Friendly Communitiy initiative, and Cultural Development Committee models.
Representatives from many sectors can participate, including the Rural Development Institute. Tara Stark, Community Nutritionist for IH, and Kerri Wall, Community Health Facilitator with Healthy Communities Initiative, can coordinate meetings.
A method to explore potential City can provide a Council models. Several reports have representative and meeting been recently published outlining space.
various approaches.
Osprey can consider initiating the first Small amount of money for the meeting. Kerri Wall, Healthy event. Communities Initiative, Community Health Facilitator, can help coordinate meetings.
Short, ongoing
A panel knowledgable in the City can develop guidelines and Short sector to adjudicate the decide on the percentage to be applications, similar to the Arts & allocated to food security.
Culture panel.
Social service organizations can reach Time
out to elders as educators or volunteers.
Very little food security and food Develop more food security and food School teachers recongize a keen Rural Development Institute can help systems education at schools systems programs for youth.
interest in food related education in Selkirk create agricultural and Selkrik.
their students.
programming. SD8 can incorporate food related education into their curriculum.
City should participate as a funder.
Medium
Support of many people in the education system, money, time.
Short, ongoing
Medium
APPENDIX G:
Economic Development Gaps
Top Priorities
Gap(s) Specific Recommendations
Additional Information
1.) Lack of knowledge of the real cost of food and the impact of buying locally grown and produced food.
Create a campaign to encourage Research is needed to show individuals and businesses to actual economic gains of more source their food locally. Promote local food sourcing.
local farmers.
Timeline (short -­‐ 2015, medium -­‐ 2015 -­‐ 18, long (er)
Role of Community Partners
Resources Needed
City Action Needed (if any)
Rural Development Institute may be able to do the research. Nelson and Area Economic Development Partnership, Chamber of Commerce, Nelson Business Association can develop a campaign, which the local media can help promote.
Access to statistics, money for advertising, time for coordination, a City Council champion.
Articulate local food production capacity is real and that it is a vibrant economic and community development opportunity.
Medium
City Council can lobby for removal of subsidies to agribusiness and apply subsidies or supports to small farmers.
Articulate local food production capacity is real and that it is a vibrant economic and community development opportunity.
Ongoing
Municipal leaders advocate for a strong, local food system
2.) Lack of subsidies for small Lobby for removal of subsidies to Research is needed to local farmers.
large agribusiness and apply demonstrate the financial subsidies and supports to small challenges small farmers face. farmers.
The Rural Development Institute is currently doing this research. Regional Districts can also lobby for this subsidy shift. 3.) Unrealized production capacity of local farms.
Kootenay Co-­‐op and Kootenay Boundary Food Producers' Co-­‐op can continue educating the public about the values of buying locally and the West Kootenay Permaculture Co-­‐op can further develop their www.kootenay food.com website which highlights and maps local farms. Create a campaign to encourage All these initiatives make it easier individuals and businesses to for people to support local source their food locally. Promote farmers.
local farmers. Develop a map showing farms that offer farmgate sales. 4.) No local abattoir exists; Build an abbatoir near Nelson. farmers and hobby farmers must go to Grand Forks or Creston to have their animals slaughtered if they are going to sell the meat. BC's current meat regulations are a hindrance to local meat production because producers can no longer butcher their own animals for sale. A public education campagin about the benefits of having an abattoir near Nelson is important because some people will be against having an abattoir in their area. 5.) Insufficient farm extension All partners work together to Critical for farmer support.
services (continuing provide the critical on site practical education for farmers).
information farmers need and currently cannot access in cost -­‐ effective ways.
Short
Legendary Meats can help develop Coordination between food a proposal for building an abattoir organizations.
nearby. The Rural Development Institute can provide related research.
City leaders can articulate Medium to long
why an abattoir is necessary, and encourage the RDCK to do a land inventory.
The CBT can provide funding for a coordinated approach to bring back this critical service.
The City can lobby the Short, ongoing
provincial government, the Association of Kootenay Boundary Local Government and the CBT to create extension services for farmers.
Create an economic development fund for local agriculture.
No economic development money is allocated to agriculture.
Develop infrastructure to support farmers and value added businesses.
Others:
Use a portion of Nelson and Area Economic Development Partnership money to create an agriculture fund.
Food Council member or Council Food Council or advisory representative that understands committee, a Council the economic development value of representative that agriculture to the City can understands the economic participate on NAEDP Advisory development value of Committee to help create a agriculture to the City.
strategic plan.
Ideally develop one facility for produce storage, produce packing, processing, and value added packaging.
City can champion the Medium to long
creation of one facility that meets many needs, and offer a cheap lease for available land or an existing building.
1.) Lack of produce storage and packing facilities.
Develop a refrigerated, Identify a location that is compartmentalized storage facility convenient for trucks, possibly and a packing facility. with geothermal cooling potential. 2.) Lack of processing and value added packaging facilities.
Inventory all currently underutilized kitchens to maximize use by processing businesses. Research what other locations have done for value added packaging facilities.
Lack of cost effective transportation and distribution means.
Create a cost effective distribution This is critical for increased local system.
production.
Farm asset costs, eg. fencing, Create grants for on-­‐farm asset are very high.
purchases.
Lack of knowledge transfer Create a mentorship program.
from older to newer farmers.
Create a report detailing failed attempts and successes.
Need for more local food production in the winter.
City can include this in the Short to medium.
strategic plan in 2015, and then allocate funding to it in 2016 and beyond.
An organization (possibly the CBT, Leadership, funding, vacant the Kootenay Co-­‐op or the land inventory.
Kootenay Boundary Regional Producers' Co-­‐op) or a business can develop a partnership to develop the facility. The Rural Development Institute can help with research.
Currently the demand for locally An organization or business can processed food is higher than inventory kitchens in the area. production; there is great Kootenay Boundary Regional economic potential in this sector. Producers' Co-­‐op can develop this Additionally, farmers usually take facility.
home unsold produce from the markets that could be directed to a value added facility.
This is a basic need to begin production.
The City can champion the Medium to long
development of the facility and offer available land or a building cheaply to lease.
Funding support for research City can offer tax breaks to and report and creation of owners of processing facility.
kitchens. Kootenay Boundary Regional Funding support
Producers Co-­‐op is developing a distribution model for its members for 2015, but needs funding support. The CBT can financially support this project.
Medium to long
City can offer parking permit Short to medium
exemptions for farm deliveries.
The CBT can offer agricultural grants.
Funding
Medium to long
Selkirk College or the Kootenay Boundary Regional Producers Co-­‐
op can create a mentorship program.
Funding
Medium
Rural Development Institute may be able to do this research.
Create greenhouses on the rooves The Skeena Recycled Energy An entrepreneur could create a of public buildings and use heat Garden Project is a great business.
from the HVAC systems.
example. http://skeenaenergy.com/project
s/garden/
Medium
The City can provide a lease for one of their roof tops.
Long
Not all restaurants buy from local farmers
Organize a tasting fair for farmers Educate restaurant owners about and restaurant owners and chefs West Kootenay Permatculture Co-­‐
to meet. op's (WKPC) online producers maps, and which produce items can be purchased when. WKPC can add more information to their website and encourage restaurants to view it. An organization representing farmers can organize a tasting fair.
City Councillors can attend Medium
the tasting fair to learn more about local farmers.
Develop a rating system for local product inclusion on restaurant menus.
Kootenay Boundary Regional Food Producers' Co-­‐op, the Kootenay Co-­‐
op and the Chamber of Commerce could produce a guide which lists this information.
City can give restaurants a Short to medium
break on business licence if they spend a certain amount on local food.
Develop a business to deliver farm fresh food to restaurants.
Kootenay Boundary Regional Food Producers' Co-­‐op can include marketing & delivery to restaurants in their business plan.
APPENDIX H:
Social Development Gaps
Top Priorities
Gap
Create a community food centre where food security organizations can share resources and network, and the public can access them.
Specific Recommendations
Additional Information
In the short term, there could be a virtual hub to support coordination on the ground.
1.) Food banks and food skills workshops are spread throughout town 2.) Lack of service coordination
Role of Community Partners
Resources Needed
One organization must spearhead the Lead organization, money
project in consultation with all others that can be involved. The Kootenay Association of Science and Techonology can be asked to help plan a virtual hub.
City Action Needed (if any)
City can support with CIP funding. City can lobby CBT and other major funders to support this project.
Timeline (short -­‐ 2015, medium -­‐ 2015 -­‐ 18, long (er)
Long
There will be greater participation by vulnerable people if they only have to go to one location to do many things. Programming should target all income levels to integrate all people in the community.
Social service organizations can meet two to four times per year to discuss their work and share plans. Social service organization can take turns hosting regular meetings.
Time
Short
3.) Lack of enough food rescue Develop more relationships between from restaurants and retail food restaurants and stores as donors and outlets.
social service agencies as recipients. The Nelson Food Cupboard, the Time to coordinate the meeting, City can fund the costs of Short
Salvation Army and Interior Health can then volunteers for food pick ups organizing the meeting/forum organize a meeting/forum for many and deliveries.
through the CIP. City restaurants, stores and social service representative can talk about agencies. The Kootenay Co-­‐op and the benefit of reducing waste in Hume Hotel can present how they Nelson.
manage to donate so much unsaleable food. Individual partnerships can form.
4.) Seniors with mobility challenges cannot remain independent because they cannot grocery shop.
Organizations with abundant volunteer Time, volunteers
resources, such as the Nelson Food Cupboard, can encourage some of their volunteers to support this program.
Short
5.) Lack of a volunteer Create a part-­‐time position. This could be a great first task for a coordinator for the Nelson area. Coordinator can find out the volunteer Social Planning Officer for the City. needs of all organizations and keep the info up to date, plus be a central contact point for people wanting to volunteer. Social service agencies could lobby the Grant funding, time, office space, Can create a Social Planning City to hire a Social Planning Officer. database, c oordinator, City Officer position
A well funded community food centre Council champion
could create this position.
Medium
6.)Lack of food skills and community kitchen programming.
A social service organization can coordinate the asset and planning meeting. Many organizations can develop more programming as time and money allow.
Short for meeting, medium for more program development.
Further develop Seniors' Coordinating Society's (Sencoord) Grocery Run program.
Create and maintain a wide selection of cooking and gardening programs, particularly for vulnerable populations, and ideally in locations clients are already comfortable with. People living in poverty can learn to make healthy meals from inexpensive whole foods and grow some of their own food. Many kitchens alrleady exist, but programming is lacking. There should be a mini asset analysis of existing programs and coordination amongst social service agencies to plan more.
Time for coordination of City can fund food skills meeting,and then planning of programming through the CIP.
individual programs, and funding for the programs.
7. ) School children participate in no or very little food skills programming outside of home economics classes.
Increase access to affordable, fresh and healthy food for vulnerable populations. Organizations that can offer food Planning must be done well ahead of SD8 Health Promoting Schools skills field trips for SD8 can contact time. Coordinator and organizations can the Health Promoting Schools contact each other to share program Coordinator to plan field trip information.
opportunities. Ideally there would be a website listing many opportunities that interested teachers could use.
Time
Short for contacting Coordinator, medium for a website.
1. ) Lack of sufficient quality food Organizations can encourage in food banks & other social donations of healthy foods.
service organizations that support vulnerable populations. Lack of funding for groceries for Our Daily Bread.
Organizations can create communication materials highlighting the importance of healthy food donations, and mention this in all media work.
City can fund food skills programming through the CIP.
Short.
2.) All children do not have healthy diets.
A social service organization, the NDCC Coordination, money for or SD8 can coordinate a planning and program development and networking meeting. All can management and food.
create programming specific for families.
City can fund food skills programming through the CIP.
Short/medium
a.) Provide nutrition and food skills education for entire families. Schools, social service agencies, and the Nelson & Distirct Community Complex can work together so all gaps are filled and programs are not duplicated. b.) Parent Advisory Committees at Some schools have lunch programs, SD8 can partner with Selkirk College, schools can create or further develop some do not.
Meals on Wheels or a local business to lunch programs.
improve programming.
c.) Harvest Rescue can provide Particularly in years when produce is schools and the Nelson and District abundant.
Community Complex with fresh fruit in September and October.
Offer multi-­‐year funding opportunities and more than one intake period each year.
Funding cycles that are too short
Others:
Knowing which children in SD8 schools are vulnerable
The Nelson Food Cupboard, who manages Harvest Rescue, can coordinate with SD8's Health Promoting Schools Coordinator.
Short
Social Planning Network or another Time
organization can lead a letter campaign to Council.
SD8 can liase with food banks and day care centres to learn which families need support.
SD8 Health promoting Schools Coordinator can initiate communication.
Farmers' markets coupons are Develop the coupon program to be West Kootenay Eco Society would A food policy council could help only for seniors and families more widely used. For example, have to be interested in growing this develop such a program.
living in poverty, therefore these organizations with volunteers could program.
people are labeled when they purchase coupons to give out as use the coupons.
volunteer appreciation or they could be used in raffle packages.
Time
Can lobby CBT by passing a resolution recommending longer funding cycles.
Short
Short, done for 2014!
Time and money for City could purchase and give out Short
coordination, support of the Eco the coupons for staff Society.
appreciation or other times when gifts are given.